Principles of Landscape

Design

Good Landscape Design Should

Be

DesignDo we need it?

Yes!
Well designed and properly installed
landscape can:

Increase your property value by 17%!

Poorly conceived and executed landscape

can:
decrease property value
waste time and money
possibly present a liability risk

The Reality Principles

Rule #1 Functionality

Who will use it?

How will they use it?
How do you want
them to use it?
Accessible for
maintenance?
Functional and
maintainable over
time?

Functional

Allows for easy

movement
Accessible for
maintenance
recreation, leisure
Functional and
maintainable over
entire life.

Easy to
Maintain
Reduces need for:
Fertilizers
Pesticides
Equipment (mowers)
Water
Extra labor/expense

Environmentally Sound

Right plant right place"

decreases:

Disease
Insect stress
Water needs

Plants in stress = more

Stressed plants require

more:

maintenance.

Labor
Fertilizer
pesticides
Ultimately more $$.

Cost Effective

Cost should not

dictate whether the
landscape is:

Functional
Maintainable
Environmentally
sound.

Low cost can meet all

these needs
Take your time let
it grow

Visually Pleasing
Framework needed to
create a visually pleasing
landscape includes:

Functionality, form
follows function
Maintainability, right
plant, right place
Consider the Cost
Learn to understand

Enhance the positives

down-play the negatives

Fundamentally, good landscape design is

a matter of managing the viewers eye.

The Artistic Principles

The artistic principles help us

achieve a visually pleasing landscape

Principles of Design

Universal design
principles guide and
enhance our
creativity

Principles of Design
Six Main Principles

Unity
Simplicity
Variety
Balance
Proportion
Sequence

How to apply to the landscape

Using several design elements

Unity: The overriding principle

Landscape elements should tie together

Should provides good blend of simplicity and
variety
Features can still be treated differently to
match the theme
Natural shapes for differing materials or
single color, many hues
Brick patio pavers plus a brick post or wall
Topography can be used for unity

Berms, hills = unity. Create a union of parts

Unity: Tying the Landscape

Together
Repeat these to unify the landscape:
Color
Curvy lines
Straight lines
Construction materials
Textures

Use similar backgrounds and foregrounds to

establish connections.
Same color/different plant.
Focal points establish dominance and unify
group

Repetition
strengthens Unity:
Selected plant
material should be
repeated throughout
landscape

Connections strengthen Unity: Interconnected parts

allow the eye to move smoothly from one element
to another appreciating the whole picture. Line

Dominance

Focal points
establish
dominance to
unify a variety of
materials
Can draw
attention to or
away from
something

Unity of Three

Unity of Three Law: Whenever three elements of the

same kind are grouped together there is a strong sense
of unity.

Lines Affect Perception

Simplicity: Limiting Change

Achieved by repetition of ideas or materials.

One of most common errors in landscapes is trying to

do too much

Less can be more. Too much variety in plant material

becomes chaotic

Reduce the number of themes

Viewer should experience the landscape in parts as

well as a whole

Too much simplicity = Monotony

Monotypic, simple planting = Monotony

Simple but still monotonous

Simple but not monotonous

Variety without looking cluttered
Trailer, mounder, tower

Variety = Absence of Monotony

Gotta have it!

Variety allows for a prominent element.

Engages viewer with what's going on.

Important to have something unexpected.

Variety adds spice and interest..

but, too much variety = Confusion

Delicate relationship between Variety and

Simplicity

Too much variety causes visual confusion

Variety and Simplicity work in a delicate
balance
Are you a collector? Be honest, now.

10

Too little variety causes monotony

Emphasis

Careful use of variety allows emphasis to be placed

where desired. Imagine this near a front door.

11

Break?

Time for a break?

Balance: Symmetrical

Formal, static,
classical design
The same thing on
each side of a central
axis, bilateral
symmetry
Distribution of visual
weight - equal

12

Symmetrical - Problems

Symmetry can be
boring
Plant loss on one side
loses balance
A symmetrical house
may not allow
asymmetrical
landscape

Symmetrical
- Effective

13

Balance: Asymmetrical

Casual

Indicates movement

Achieved by using
similar ideas but
different things
on either side
Distribution of visual
weight - equal

Asymmetrical - Problems

Empty areas that make

your eye uneasy

Bottom left side feels

heavy

Top right feels light

Floating, not grounded

14

Asymmetrical - Effective

Eye feels a sense of

unity

No uneasiness
Calmness
Feel grounded and
enclosed

15

Proportion, or Scale
How things relate to each other with respect to size
Large elements and small elements need an
intermediary to bring them together
Large difference in size creates dissonance
Very large material can be intimidating
Generally don't want very large in residential design.
Make people feel welcome
Bring things down to human scale

Disproportionate or proportionate?

Proportionate or disproportionate?

16

Sequence, or Rhythm

From horizontal to rounded to vertical

From low spreading plants to vertical plants.
Here to there.
Near to far.
Turf-shrubs-trees.
Sequence can help the eye move from one
area to another orderly progression

Sequence (rhythm) can be achieved through the

graduation in size and type of plants used.

17

Time for a break?

18

Principles of Design
Six Main Principles

Unity
Simplicity
Variety
Balance
Proportion
Sequence

How to apply to the landscape

Plants are Functional

What is the function of that space?
What plants can serve the needs of that
space?
Each plant serves a purpose , or function

Specimen Plant as Focal Point

Perfect form
or shape

19

Accent Plants Draw Attention

Draws
Attention

Corner Plants

Used to
soften sharp
edge

Foundation Plants

Used to soften the

horizontal line or
mark a boundary

20

Border Plants
To create a
visual boundary
or background

Screen Plants

To hide or screen
a view

Shade Plants

Pure function in the

south can you think
of others?

21

Ornamental Elements
from Plants
Each plant has its own traits,
characteristics, or artistic elements
Their placement adds another layer to
the design
These elements create the design

Using Color, Form, Texture & Line

Color
Form

Let nature guide you

Using Color, Form, Texture & Line

Texture

Line

22

Putting it All Together

The Design Process

The Design Process

Base/Site Plan
Start with a Base
Add the Site analysis

Conceptual diagram
General use areas

Plant selection
Final design
Planting plan
A GUIDE

The base plan should

consist of:

Accurate house placement

legal document
Accurate lot and house
dimensions
Existing hardscapes
Any covenants?

How to begin?

Obtain plot/plat from:

builder, or county or city
property records.
Determine the scale &
decide a scale

23

I. Base Plan
Stick to the Facts:

Obtain a survey

Plat from the office of probate, courthouse.

Working copy for dimensions, scale not needed
Provides a base copy for the design process

Make preliminary decisions

How much can you spend?

How much are you willing to spend?

Site analysis on Base Plan

Evaluate the components of the site
Site physical characteristics

Exposure: macro and micro climates

Soil: pH, type, drainage, hardpans, etc.
Topography

Site aesthetic characteristics

Views: attractive and unattractive

Indoor/outdoor relationships including utility
and views

Base plan (plat)

24

Adding the Site

conditions

Existing Site
Conditions

Site condition
hours of sun

25

Site conditions Exposure:

Sun
Wind
Noise

Base Plan + Site Plan?

Time for a break?

26

II. Conceptual Diagram

*Form follows function
Outdoor needs:

Kids, pets,
entertainment

Storage

Aesthetic preferences:

Recreation

Plant material
Construction
material:

Toys in the yard, lawn

equipment, boat

Circulation

Parking to kitchen,
outdoor cooking to
indoor

Stone, concrete,
wood
Garden style
(formal/ informal)
Special elements
statuary, water
features

Conceptual Diagram
Includes Base/Site Plan of
property:
house
walks/drive
terraces
utilities
trees
shrubs
outbuildings

Plus

Desired usefulness
in specific areas
What are your
needs and
preferences?
Three general
use areas:

Public
Private
Service

27

Conceptual
Diagram
general use
areas

Conceptual
Diagram
general use
areas

The Concept Plan

adds creative ideas:

Defines spaces address

functional areas with
general plant material
Evolves from shapes
developed in the site
analysis/base plan
Refine and experiment
with different concepts
or materials
Remember, form follows
function

28

Conceptual Plan?

III. The Design

Planting Plan
communicates exactly
what to use, where it will
go, how it should look.

No.
1

Plant/Hardgood
Type
Deciduous Tree

Height x
Width
50 x 35

Form
Upright/ov
al

Seasonal
Interest

Drawn to scale
Labels plants and other
components key/legend
Provides a materials list
Provides additional notes

Common
Name
Patmore Ash

Latin Name
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Patmore

Comments
Canopy tree; disease and drought
tolerant

Final Plan

29

The Final Design

includes

Plant list
Plant inventory
Illustrations of
structures & plants
A complete picture
explaining installation
of the landscape

Harmony exists in the landscape when all 6

design principles work together.

Before

30

After

All That Said

Remember Two Things

Create Something You Like

31

Start Small

Questions?

32